Mayor Lee Announces Free Chargeups For Electric Cars Through 2013

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San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee issued an executive directive Monday ordering that all charging of electric vehicles be free at city-owned charging stations through 2013.

The charging stations, the first of which will be installed in June, will be located at 19 city-owned parking garages, San Francisco International Airport, and other locations, possibly including some neighborhood branch libraries around the city, according to the mayor’s office.

San Francisco officials plan to have more than 80 of the parking stations installed citywide by the end of the year.

Lee said in a statement that the free charging stations would help build a local market for electric vehicles and prevent “range anxiety,” the worry that the batteries in the cars will run out of power.

“The city’s goal is to make it affordable and convenient for all San Francisco residents and visitors to charge their electric vehicles when they are away from their home charging stations,” Lee said.

The order is part of the city’s goal of reducing greenhouse gases to 20 percent below 1990 levels by next year, according to the mayor’s office.